Training Exercises (Deaths)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what are the criteria for establishing a board of inquiry for accidents to service personnel during training; and if such inquiries are set up in every case of death or serious disablement;

(2) if he will appoint a military ombudsman with responsibility for investigating complaints of Ministry of Defence secrecy from families of service personnel who die on training exercises.

The rules governing the convening and conduct of boards of inquiry are contained in Queen's regulations for the three services. While it is not mandatory to convene a formal board of inquiry in every case, all deaths or serious accidents in service are subject to an internal investigation either by a formal service inquiry or by the service police. We have no plans to appoint a military ombudsman.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) in how many cases of death of service personnel during training in each of the past five years have(a) families requested a full report of the board of inquiry and (b) his Ministry have not complied with this request;

(2) how many complaints have been received in the last five years from the families of service personnel, who died during training, about inadequate information concerning the deaths.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will issue new policy guidelines to commanding officers requiring them to provide maximum information with the minimum of delay to families of service personnel who die during training exercises.

The Ministry of Defence has always provided details of the deaths of service personnel killed during training in response to a request from the bereaved family. This information takes the form of a specially prepared statement giving an accurate and objective summary of the service investigation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will ensure that families of service personnel who die on training exercises are provided on request with full medical records of a deceased person, including the autopsy report.